Time-Tested Tips to Combat Hair Fall and Promote Hair Growth

We all have a very deep connection with our hair. It’s an important piece of the picture we present to the world. It affects how you hold your head and can influence how you feel about yourself on any given day. Research has linked hair loss to low self-esteem, body image issues and high stress levels.

We are born with a fixed number of hair follicles and as we age some of them do get damaged. We shed about 50-100 hair on average each day. If it feels like more than that or your hair has stopped growing in some places altogether then this is just the article for you.

To fix a problem we first need to get to the root of it. Find out the cause & try solving it. So what are the reasons for hair fall? Could be one or a combination of any of the below:

• Your genes
• Hormonal imbalances
• Lack of nutrients / restrictive diets
• Stress
• Due to certain diseases / medications
• Ageing, smoking, obesity
• Gut micro biome imbalances, toxins
• Local scalp issues like dandruff, dermatitis
• Environmental factors like pollution/ over use of heat/ harsh shampoos

• While some causes like genetics/ diseases/ medications/ lifestyle & diet are more than obvious, sometimes diagnosing your hair fall can be tricky. In such situations here is what I recommend:
• A full blood test that includes fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, Vit D, Haemoglobin, Iron studies especially Ferritin ( which needs to bed greater than 40 to stabilise hair loss and more than 70 to promote new hair growth)
• Visit a dermatologist who will physically examine the strength of your hair, roots and state of your scalp.

Nutrients for Healthy Hair

In terms of nutrients, there are a few which healthy hair absolutely requires: Protein, essential fatty acids, B complex vitamins (especially Biotin and B12), Vit C, Vit E, Vit A, Vit D, zinc, selenium & collagen,

• Protein : Beans, lentils, soya, quinoa, lean meats,
• Healthy fats : Ghee, coconut oil, avocados, fatty fish, chia seeds & flax seeds
• Vit C : Amla, Citrus fruits, bell peppers, berries, kiwi, broccoli
• Biotin : Eggs, green leafy vegetables
• Vit E, A : Almonds, walnuts, sweet potatoes
• Zinc, selenium : Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, oysters
• Iron : Spinach, beetroot, dates

If dietary requirements cannot be met through food you can also consider supplementation with a multivitamin containing Biotin, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, saw palmetto or Omega 3. Magnesium & collagen supplements also help.

It is also important to stimulate your scalp. A chronically inflamed scalp can lead to hair loss and thinning. Stimulating the scalp with regular massages has shown to promote growth.

Quick Scalp Detox-

• For a good scalp detox you can try any of the following:
• A warm coconut oil massage an hour before a wash
• Fresh aloe vera pulp massaged into the scalp 15 minutes before a wash
• Diluted apple cider vinegar applied to the scalp for a few minutes post shampoo and conditioner and then rinsed.

Fix Hair Damage

Physical damage to your hair is very common if you regularly blow dry it, style it with heat and products, colour it. The only cure for hair damage is to prevent new damage from happening.

Here’s what you can do:

• Never tie your hair too tightly & use softer hair ties as well as switch up your style and partitions regularly so you’re not putting pressure on the same spot day-in-day-out.
• You should also always brush from the tips up—starting from the root is a recipe for breakage.
• Wet hair = weak hair, so be mindful of how you comb it (use a tangle teaser/ wet comb ideally)
• Be mindful of how you wear it when you work out: Since most of us keep the hair out of our faces when moving, we often pull it tight. Wear something like a loose braid or low pony.
• While using heat, run your iron at medium heat and take smaller sections. Safeguard hair before you straighten it with a nourishing heat protection spray/ serum.
• Skip the dry shampoos and avoid shampoos with harsh chemical compounds like Sodium lauryl Sulfate/ Sulfonates & Parabens.
• Don’t overdo the oil massages if you have weak roots and avoid overnight oiling, Make sure to wash off all the oil so that you don’t allow the pores to get clogged.

If you have already damaged hair and want to try out some natural home remedies for hair growth, consider these:

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil can penetrate deep into your hair shafts and prevent protein loss. This helps reduce hair damage and breakage often caused by physical trauma like styling and use of harsh products.

You Will Need

• 1-2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil
• What You Have To Do
• Massage virgin coconut oil gently into your scalp and hair.
• Leave it on for at least an hour before rinsing it off with a mild cleanser.
• Follow up with a conditioner. You may do this at least two times a week.

• Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
• Amla (Emblica officinalis) possesses hair growth promoting activity. It has a proliferative effect on the dermal papilla cells in the hair follicles

You Will Need

• Fresh amla juice (as required)
• What You Have To Do
• Apply fresh amla juice to your scalp. Leave it on for 30 minutes.
• Rinse it off using a mild cleanser.
• Follow up with a conditioner.
• You may do this 1-2 times a week.

Methi (Fenugreek)

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum) possesses hair growth promoting properties. It not only reduces hair loss significantly but also stimulates new hair growth.

You Will Need

• ½ cup of fenugreek seeds
• Water
• What You Have To Do
• Soak half a cup of fenugreek seeds in water overnight.
• Grind the soaked paste and apply it as a hair mask.
• Leave it on for 30-60 minutes and rinse it off with water.
• You may do this once a week.

Onion Juice

According to a study published in the Journal of Dermatology, the topical application of crude onion juice to the scalp can aid hair regrowth, especially in cases of alopecia areata.

You Will Need

• ½ onion
• What You Have To Do
• Blend the onion and strain the mixture to obtain the juice.
• Apply the juice to your scalp and leave it on for 30-60 minutes.
• Rinse it off with water.

You may do this 1-2 times a week.

Chinese Hibiscus

The leaves and flowers of Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) show hair growth promoting activities and can be used to deal with hair loss.

You Will Need

• 1-2 hibiscus flowers
• 5-6 hibiscus leaves
• Coconut oil (as required)

What You Have To Do

• Blend the hibiscus flowers and leaves.
• Add a little coconut oil to this mixture.
• Apply it to your scalp and spread some to your hair.
• Leave it on for 30-60 minutes.
• Rinse it off with a mild shampoo and condition your hair.
• You may do this once a week.

Egg Yolk Mask

The water-soluble peptides in egg yolk possess hair growth stimulating properties that may be useful to treat hair loss.

You Will Need

1 egg yolk

What You Have To Do

• Whisk the egg yolk.
• Apply it to your scalp and leave it on for at least 30 minutes.
• Rinse it off using a fragrant shampoo and follow up with a conditioner.
• You may do this once a week.

Henna

Henna can help with hair regrowth when applied topically. It works almost as well as minoxidil (a drug used to treat hair loss) in treating hair fall caused by telogen effluvium.

You Will Need

• 1 cup of henna leaves
• Water (as required)
• What You Have To Do
• Blend the henna leaves with water to form a thick paste.
• Apply the paste to your scalp and spread the remaining mixture through the length of your hair. Leave it on for an hour.
• Rinse it off with water.
• You may use any organic henna powder if fresh leaves aren’t available.
• You may do this once in a week.

Curry Leaves

Curry leaves help in retaining the natural pigmentation of your hair while also stimulating hair growth.

You Will Need

• A handful of curry leaves
• ½ cup of coconut oil
• What You Have To Do
• Add a handful of curry leaves to half a cup of coconut oil and heat it in a saucepan.
• Once the mixture reduces to a black residue, switch off the stove and allow the oil to cool.
• Strain the oil to remove the leaves from the mixture.
• Apply the oil to your scalp and spread it through your hair. Leave it on for 30-60 minutes.
• Rinse it off with a mild shampoo.
• Follow up with a conditioner.

If a comprehensive approach, including a supportive diet, appropriate supplements, stress management, and the use of healthy hair products aren’t helping you here are the options you can consider:

Medication/ topical lotions like Minoxidil & Finasteride (only after the guidance of a doctor since they do have contraindications)

• Laser therapy / PRP
• Hair weaving / Hair transplant
• Hair extension (for volume)